Means for overcoming smoke nuisances



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

. G. I. BUSH.

MEANS FOR OVERGOMIN'G SMOKE NUISANGES.

Patented Feb. 2

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Patented Feb. 2, 1897.

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.UNrTE STATES FFICE.

CORY I. BUSH, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

MEANS FOR OVERCOMING SMQKE NUISANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 576,432, dated February 2, 1897'. Application filedApril 20, 1896. Serial No. 588,311. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, CORY I. BUSH, a citizen of the United States. residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Overcoming the Smoke Nuisance; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is a means for overcoming the smoke nuisance common in cities and other places where large furnaces are operated.

The invention is applicable not only to stationary furnaces used on the land, but it is equally capable of use on vessels in connection with any kind of furnace where it is desirable or necessary to destroy the smoke resulting from the combustion of fuel.

Various attempts have been heretofore made to obviate the smoke nuisance or pre vent the escape of smoke from furnaces into the outside surrounding atmosphere, as, for instance, by burning the carbon in the smoke; but I propose to dispose of the smoke by con ducting the same to a sewer or other subterranean place of deposit or, in case of steamvessels or ocean craft of any kind, by conducting it into the body of water.

My invention consists in the novel combination of devices and peculiar construction and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure l is an elevation of my apparatus for destroying smoke and utilizing the waste heat contained in the escaping smoke and products of combustion. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the condensing pipe or flue, showing one of the spray-nozzles and device for operating the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the mechanism for operating spray employed to precipitate the carbon in the smoke. Fig. 4 represents in sectional elevation a, portion of a steamboat, showing the boilers and ordinary smoke-pipe with a part of my improvements. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional View on linemcof Fig. 4, illustraing in plan the boilers, the pump, and parts of myinveution. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation ou the plane indicated by z .2 of Fig. 5, looking forward.

Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

I will now proceed to describe my apparatus, and in the drawings, Fig. 1, A describes the furnace of anycommon construction. To the smoke space or chamber of the furnace is conneoted the smoke-exit pipe B, or the smokepipe may be connected in any preferred Way, so that the smoke and products of combustion can pass from the furnace into the s1nokepipe.

C is a subterranean place of deposit for the residuum resulting from the condensation of precipitation of the carbon and other matters in the smoke as well as. the liquid (water) used for precipitating said carbon. I prefer to conduct the waste water, steam, and residuum from the smoke into a sewer, as represented in Fig. 1, but it will be understood that any other place underneath the earths surface can be provided, as, for instance, a shaft or well sunk to sand or gravel, so as to take up and convey away the water, &c.

The smoke-pipe B is curved or deflected downward, and said pipe B and sewer C are connected bya tube or flue D, in which smoke and water are discharged to effect theprecipitation of the carbon and other mattersin the smoke. The condensing pipe or flue D is preferably made up of a series of tiles or other form of tubing properlylaid and joined together, the lower tile connected to the sewer 0 (when used on land) and the upper tile or pipe suitably jointed to the smoke-pipe B, which latter is preferably made of metal. When used, for marine purposes, the lower length or portion of the condensing-pipe D is preferably made of metal.

Around the smoke-pipe may be arranged a tubular jacket E, a fragmentary part of which is shown by Fig. 1, which jacket is designed to be supplied with the Water to be heated, and said jacket may be sustained in any con venient manner. Fresh Water is supplied to this jacket from a convenient source of supply through a pipe e. The waterin the jacket is heated by the waste heat and products of combustion passing from the furnace through the pipe B, and the heated water in the jacket may be carried by piping to any convenient place for various uses.

WVithin the condensing-pipe D is an annular seat or ledge D, (shown more plainly in Fig. 2,) which is suitably formed or fixed within the pipe, and this ledge has a convex or inclined surface (Z, which flares from the delivery side toward the intaking side of the ledge or seat, so that the diameter of the seatis greater at its intaking side and less at the delivery side. Projecting into this condensing pipe or fine is a liquid-supply pipe F, which has its inner openingf concentric with the pipe D and terminating above the seat or ledge d at a proper distance to throw a finelydivided spray of water or other liquid against the seat or ledge. The discharge end of the supply-pipe is provided with any suitable form of spray-nozzle 1, so as to divide the stream. of water supplied under ressure to the pipe F into a fine spray and spread the same into conical flaring form, as indicated by dotted lines g in Fig. 2. The flaring spray fills the pipe throughout its cross-sectional area, creating a partial vacuum and consequent draft, and it is projected through the smoke and operates to condense and precipitate the carbon and other matters contained in the smoke. The peculiar shape of the inner surface cl of the seat or ledge causes the spray and matters held in suspension therein to again converge toward the center of the pipe, as indicated at g in Fig. 2, whereby the residuum is carried with the water to the sewer C. Preferably a series of two or more of the seats and spray-nozzles, as indicated in Fig. 1, are employed to thoroughly effect the condensation of the smoke and precipitation of the carbon, &c., within the smoke-pipe or the coi'idensing-pipe, so that any smoke which is not thoroughly condensed by the first spray will be subjected to the action of the second or third or more sprays as the smoke, steam, and water are carried through the condensing-flue.

\Vater may be supplied to the spray pipes and nozzles in any desirable or convenient way, and in Fig. 1 I have illustrated means for conducting water from an elevated tank H, a pump I, or a water-main J to either or all of the spray-nozzles. The series of spraynozzles are connected by pipes t' t' to the elevated tank to the water-chamber of the pump by the pipe is, which connects with the pipe '5 and the elevated tank and to the watermain by the pipe j, suitable valves 7s being placed in the pipes t' and j to properly control the flow of water through the pipes to the respective nozzles, so that water can be conducted to either of the spray-nozzles from any one of three sources of supply, either or all of which may be used as is most convenient or desirable.

To secure economy in the use of the water, I employ a cistern or tank L, which is preferably situated below the plane of the inclined condensing-pipe, and this cistern has a pipe connection I with the condensing-pipe at a point below the lowermost seat or ledge cl if a series are used, a strainer I being placed over the mouth of the pipe I to prevent the sediment from depositing into the cistern. A pipe on leads from the lower cistern L to the pump I, so that the water in the latter can be drawn into the pump and forced back through the condensing-pipe D, thus enabling a part of the water to be used over again. Access to the cistern can be had through a water-tight gate a, so that the sediment can be removed or saved when considered of value. The cistern is furthermore connected by a valved pipe 0 with the condensing-pipe D for draining the cistern when necessary and also by an overflow-pipe 0, which leads from the upper part of the cistern to the condensing pipe or fine, as shown.

The draft in the condensing-pipe D can be increased, if found necessary or desirable, by employing a rotary blower or fan P, which discharges through the pipe 19, connected at its lower end to the condensing-pipe D below the lower seat and spray-nozzle therein. This fan or blower can be operated by any suitable means. In Fig. 1 I have shown a belt and pulleys driven from a suitable shaft.

The pump I is preferably operated by steam taken from the dome of the boiler or heater through a pipe 1 This being the construction of my apparatus designed forstationary or land furnaces, as shown by Fig. 1, the operation may be briefly described as follows: The smoke and products of combustion are conveyed by the pipe 13 to the condensing-pipe D, and they are subjected to one or more sprays of liquid through the nozzle, so that the carbon and other matters in the smoke are precipitated by the spray or sprays. The waste water and sediment are carried through the pipe D to the sewer or other place, and a part of the water may collect in the cistern L, from whence it can be pumped back to the tank II or direct to nozzles. The waste heat from the escapin g products of combustion serve to heat the water in the surrounding jacket of the smoke-pipe, which may thus serve as a feedwater heater, or the water from the jacket may be conducted by pipes and used for various purposes.

It is evident that by forcing the water, sediment, smoke, &c., under pressure into the sewer draft is created and the latter is purified and cleansed, as its contents are compelled to move along the same by the volume of inilowing water, the motion of which can be accelerated by the fan or blower. The draft in the condensing-pipe, however, may be regulated by the valves and maintained by means of water sprays acting on the smoke to condense the same.

In Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings I have shown in detail one form of a spray-nozzle adapted for use in my apparatus. In the condensing-pipe D is secured a spider A, preferably of triangular form, and the upper end or apex of this spider is provided with a threaded hearing or a threaded nut g, which is a part of the spider. This nut or bearing is concentric with the pipe D and lies in axial alinement with the nozzle f of the pipe F. Passing vertically through this nut is the threaded valve-stem Q, which has at one end a conical valve-head A, adapted to fit into the flared mouth of the spray-nozzlef. The valve-stem is impelled longitudinally by the worm-wheel g and worm g, and this worm g is rigid with a spindle projecting through the side of the condensing-tube D, on which is a hand-wheel. The worm-spindle is journaled in suitable bearings, which are supported by the diametrical brace of the spider A. The spindle Q is made to rotate with the worm gear 9 by means of the pin a, which passes through the hub of the gear and also through the longitudinal slot ct in the endwise-movable valve-spindle Q. This allows the spindle Q to move to or from the nozzle f for the purpose of adjusting the valve to graduate the spray, and this is accomplished without disconnecting the worm and worm-gear. The nozzle f is held rigidly in its place by means of the brace b, which is secured to the condensing-pipe D.

In Figs. 4:, 5, and 6 of the drawings I have illustrated in a general way the application of my invention to a small vessel in which the devices illustrated by Figs. 2 and 3 are employed and the same general organization of parts shown by Fig. 1 is preserved, with the changes necessary to apply the structure to the vessel and to effect the discharge of the gases, sediment, and other matters in the smoke at the stern of the vessel, either below or above the water-line. The water-line of the vessel is indicated by the dotted line y 3 of Fig. 4. The condensing-pipe D is connected to the uptake or stack B, constituting the smoke-pipe of the vessel, and this 0011- densing-pipe inclines downwardly from its connection with the stack B and toward the stern of the vessel, (see Fig. 4,) and it is carried laterally out through the side of the vessel, the discharge end of said pipe D terminating in a T-shaped nozzle or pipe M, which is open at the foreand-aft ends. The smokepipe is provided with one or a series of the seats or ledges constructed as shown by Fig. 2, and with said pipe is combined the pump I and the pipe 70, having the regulating-valves 7t to supply or shut off the liquid to the nozzles within the pipe D, all as clearly shown by Figs. 5 and 6. In the lower part of the smoke-pipe B is a damper O, which is made to close tightly when my device is in use.

The pipe D is obviously coupled to the smoke-pipe or uptake above the water-line to prevent water from backing in the pipe D and flooding the furnace. The discharge end or nozzle M for the condensing-pipe may be located in the most convenient place, ac-

cording to the designers ideas, either above or belowthe water-line. When the nozzle M is arranged below the water-line and at or near the stern of the vessel, as shown by Fig. 1, the suction caused by the motion of the vessel through the water materially aids the draft through the pipe D, and less water may be injected by the spray-nozzles from the pipe and pump I into the condensing-pipe.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an apparatus for destroying, or dispensing with, smoke, the combination with a furnace, of the condensing-pipe coupled at one end by the smoke-pipe B to the furnace and provided with a series of internal ledges or seats, a series of spray-nozzles within said condensing-pipe and arranged with their discharge-mouths facing toward said ledges or seats, to discharge the liquid sprays against the ledges or deflectors therein, and a fluidsupply connected to the spray-nozzles, as and for the purposes described.

2. In an apparatus for destroying, or dispensing with, smoke, the combination with a furnace, of a condensing pipe or conduit having a series of ledges or seats within itself, a smoke-pipe between the furnace and condensing pipe or conduit, a series of spray-nozzles situated within the condensing-pipe and arranged with their discharge-mouths facing to- Ward said seats or ledges to discharge against the same, an elevated tank, a pump, and pipe connections between said tank, pump and the spray-nozzles, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. In an apparatus for the destroying, or dispensing with, smoke, the combination with a furnace, of the condensing pipe or conduit connected to the smoke-space of the furnace and leading to a suitable place of discharge, a series of spray-nozzles within the condensing pipe or conduit, an elevated tank, a pump, a water-main, and valved connections between the spray-nozzles and said tank, pump and water-main, as and for the purposes described.

4:. In an apparatus for the destroying or dispensing with smoke, the combination with a furnace, of the condensing pipe or conduit provided with a series of internal seats or ledges and connected with the smoke-space of the heater, a series of spray-nozzles within said condensing-pipe, and a fan or blower having its wind-trunk connected to the condensing-pipe below the seats or ledges therein, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a furnace, of the condensing-pipe connected with the smokespace of the furnace and leading to a suitable place of discharge, and having the internal seat or ledge, an elevated tank, a spray-nozzle within the condensing-pipe, in proximity to the seat or ledge therein, a supply-pipe between said tank and the spray-nozzle, a wastetank connecting with the condensing-pipe,

and a pump connected with the elevated and waste tanks, and spray-nozzles, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination with a condensing-pipe, of a spray device located therein, a pump, a supply-pipe intermediate of the spray device and pump, a waste-tank, a settling or tray chamber adapted to discharge to said wastetank and also connected to the condensingpipe below the spray device, and a pipe connection between the waste-tank and the pump, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a condensing-pipe, of a spray device located therein and having a suitable liquid supply connected to the same, a pump, a waste-tank having a receiving connection, as I with the condensing-pipe and the overflow and discharge connections 0, 0, with said condensing-pipe, and a pipe between the waste-tank and pump, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a furnace, of a condensing-pipe connected to the furnace and leading to a place of discharge, as a sewer or body of water, a smoke-pipe coupled to the condensing-pipe and furnace, a spray within the condensing-pipe, a suitable pipe to the nozzle, a cistern connected to the condensingpipe below the spray-nozzle therein, and a pump or tank connected to the supply-pipe and cistern, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a furnace, of a condensing-pipe having the interior seat, a spray-nozzle fitted in the condensing-pipe and having its end provided with the flared mouth, a longitudinallymovable stem, located in front of the nozzle and provided with the conical head, and the operating-shaft for adj usting the stem, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The combination of a condensing-pipe provided with an internal seat or ledge, a regu lator-valve, a shaft which is movable with the regulator-valve toward and from the flared mouth of said nozzle, a support fixed within the condensing-pipe and receiving the shaft of said regulator-valve and a stem passing through the condensing-pipe and operative] y connected with the shaft for the valve, substantially as and for the purposes described.

11. The combination with a condensingpipe, of the internal seat on the inner surface of said pipe and arranged to flare inwardly and downwardly in a direction toward the axis of said pipe, and a spray-nozzle situated in the pipe, with its flared discharge-mouth facing toward the flared seat or ledge, and said nozzle arranged to leave a smoke-passage between itself and said seat, as and for the purposes described.

12. The combination with a condensingpipe having a seat or ledge, and a spray-nozzle, of a valve-stem arranged in axial alinement with the nozzle and carrying a valvehead, and an operating-spindle geared to the valve-stem and adapted to move the same and its valve endwise toward or from the discharge-nozzle, as set forth.

13. The combination with a condensingpipe having an internal seat, and a spraynozzle of an endwise-movable valve-stem carrying a valve, an operating-spindle having a worm and a Worm -gear meshing with the worm and connected by a slidable joint with the valve-stem, as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I aftix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CORY I. BUSH.

Witnesses FRANK S. PATTON, MARVIN SMITH. 

